A £56 million project to develop a history and library centre in Worcester has been praised by the city's MP.

Mike Foster said today that the scheme would create a first-class facility for the city, with hundreds of new jobs.

He spoke out after Worcestershire County Council's cabinet approved a short-list of three companies to take on the mammoth development.

"This is another step forward to delivering a first-class facility in the heart of Worcester," he said.

"It will be a unique development and the largest regeneration project Worcester has seen. The shared library will be central to the plans."

The new library and history centre, to be developed at the Butts, will be largely funded by a private finance initiative (PFI) with contributions from the county council and Advantage West Midlands.

It forms part of a larger scheme, which will see a new £120 million university campus built on the former Worcester Royal Infirmary site in Castle Street by the University of Worcester.

"Rather than the university, the further education college and the city each having their own library, this project combines them all into one.

"For local people it will mean longer opening hours, more space and they will feel part of this exciting new project," he said.

"Our city will also be able to showcase its history in a much better way than now. More space will be created, and objects currently archived away can be displayed.

"In turn, this will generate more visitors to Worcester who will spend their cash in the city boosting jobs and incomes here.

"I have been privileged to be part of these exciting plans from the start - including intervening at key moments when the plans could have stumbled," said Mr Foster.